Powerful earthquake hits Myanmar and Thailand, at least 140 killed and hundreds injured

BANGKOK — A 7.7-magnitude earthquake centered in Myanmar reverberated across Southeast Asia on Friday, with the scale of death, injury and destruction slowly coming into view in the war-ravaged nation, where the military government maintains a tight hold on information.

BANGKOK — A 7.7-magnitude earthquake centered in Myanmar reverberated across Southeast Asia on Friday, with the scale of death, injury and destruction slowly coming into view in the war-ravaged nation, where the military government maintains a tight hold on information.

The earthquake occurred around 1:30 p.m. local time (2:30 a.m. ET) at a depth of 6 miles near Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was followed 11 minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock.

According to Myanmar’s ruling military general, Min Aung Hlaing, 140 people have been killed, and hundreds more injured, adding that those numbers are likely to rise.

The USGS warned on Friday that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread.” According to a predictive analysis based on the strength and depth of the earthquake, USGS estimated there could be thousands of deaths and severe economic loss.

Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson of Myanmar's military government, earlier made an appeal for medical supplies in a late night news bulletin on state television, calling for blood donations due to “so many” injuries across three urban areas. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/earthquake-myanmar-thailand-77-bangkok-tremor-rcna198515

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